Scuttle-ladder



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

- R. M. POWERS.

SGUTTL E LADDER.

No. 453,294. Patented June 2, 1891.

I Fig .Z

wi/h mooeo amewtoz A :powexs.

3511 Meme? /a7 I I 2 Sheets Sheet 2.

(No Mode l.)

R. M. POWERS.

SGUTTLE LADDER.

No. 453,294. Patented June 2,1891.

mmm m pomex;

mama

alto c140.

mMm/ owo ward into the attic.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' RICHARD M. POWERS, or NORWICH, CONNECTICUT.

SCUTTLE-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 453,294, dated June 2, 1891.

Application filed February 16, 1891. Serial No. 381,650. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

l 3e it known that I, RICHARD M. POWERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Normob, in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvement in Scuttle-Ladders,which improvements are fullyset forth and described in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying two sheets of drawings, in which Figure l is a vertical sectional view of a house, showing the attic and scuttleleading thereto and having my. improvements embodied therewith. Fig. 2 shows the scuttle and parts immediately connected therewith considerably enlarged. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the ladder, and Fig. 4 is an upper face View of the trap-door that closes the scuttle-hole. Fig. 5 is substantially like Fig. 1, but shows a jointed ladder for use with attics having very little head room, the ladder being shown as in the act of passing up- Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the ladder in its lowest position ready for use. Fig. 7 is a perspective View of the jointed ladder.

This invention relates to ladders for use with scuttle-holes, and has for its immediate object the production of a ladder that may be readily disposed of when not in use and which may also serve to automatically close the scuttle or trap door. I

In many low-posted or cottage houses a scuttle-hole furnishes the only means of access to the attic. This attic-room or space under the roof may not be available for liv ing or lodging apartments, butis always valuable, if convenient of access, as a store-room. Ordinarily this space is reached by a ladder through a scuttle-hole,and after using such ladder it must be carried below to the cellar, shed, or other store-room until again needed, or it must be left in the passage-way or room from which the scuttle leads, either practice being more or less objectionable.

My present invention overcomes the exist ing objections by making it both possible and easy to pass the ladder up through the scuttle-hole after using, and thus storing it in the attic.

My invention also provides for automatically closing the trap-door of the scuttle as the ladder passes upward through it.

Referring to the annexed drawings, a denotes the floor of a cottage-house, and b a scuttle-hole leading through said floor into the attic or space under the roof. A trapdoor 0 is hinged to one side or end of the scuttle-hole and adapted to be swung upward to close the said hole.

Referring to Fig: 1, d indicates a ladder, which may be made with rungs or may have steps, as here shown. This ladder has secured to its upper end a cord or chain e,which passes upward over a pulley f, secured to a rafter or other convenient part of the roof.

The free end of said cord or chain has attached to it aweight 9, that should be heavy enough to counterbalance the ladder. It will now be understood that if the ladder be passed upward through the scuttle-hole the described cord-and-weight attachments will serve to steady the movement of the ladder and to support it at any desired elevation.

To draw the ladder down through the scuttle-hole when it is again required for use, I preferably attach to its lower portion a cord h, which may terminate with an ornamental tassel, if desired, and which hangs down within easy reach when the ladder is in its elevated position. The scuttle b has attached to it a strong hook m, and the ladder has secured to its lower end a cross-rod n, the latter being of such size and shape that it may engage the hook m as the ladder is raised through the scuttle-hole and thus lift the trap-door c and close the scuttle-opening. The trap-door is preferably notched, as at o, to provide an opening through and from which the cord h may hang when the trapdoor is closed.

In order to insure the easy passage of the ladder upward through the scuttle-hole, I provide a roller 8, that is journaled at or near the casing of said scuttle and over the hinged end of the trap-door. As the ladder passes upward it may ride on the roller 8, which olfers but little frictional resistance.

For use with attics having very low roofs and consequently little head room, I provide a ladder jointed as at t. (See Figs. 5, 6, and 7 This ladder has the cord e attached to the upper end of the lower section, the cord being also used with a pulley and weight or with such a system of pulleys as will allow the necessary movement of the ladder withoutpermitting the weight to descend to the floor. Above the roller 8 I provide a second roller 2), as in Fig. 5. When the ladder is passed upward through the scuttle-hole, the upper hinged section after it leaves rollers drops back upon roller 1;, as shown in Fig. 5, and as the ladder continues to rise said upper section gradually approaches a horizontal position, as in said Fig. 5, and by thus shortening or partly folding the ladder it becomes possible to store" away in a very low attic a ladder long enough to reach from said attic to the floor below.

Mydescribedinvention may be very cheaply constructed and makes available a vast amount of space heretofore rarely used.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. In combination with a scuttle, a ladder counterbalanced by means substantially as herein described, and adapted to be passed upward through said scuttle when not in use. 2. In combination with a scuttle, a ladder counterbalanced as herein described, and an anti-frictional roller, as s, journaled at one end of said scuttle in the path of the ladder.

3. In combination with a scuttle, a ladder counterbalanced as described, and a cord suspended from the lower end of said ladder, as and for the purpose specified.

4. In combination with a scuttle, a ladder counterbalanced as described, a trap -door hinged as set forth and adapted to close the scuttle-hole, and mechanism consisting of hook on and rod n, substantially as described,

FRANK II. ALLEN, ALoNzo M. LUTHER. 

